RaboDirect Pro 12 - Cardiff Blues vs Ulster - 17/02/2012

[Draggs]

Yeah, I agree, but is it too late? The Ponty MP wants this regional reform with a Valleys region.
Sheppeard is a handy young eight, and Blues truly need one. For me, the Blues are just behind the Scarlets for young players coming through. They just need to integrate them into the team smartly. Hill and Cook have slowly been gaining some game time, but they really need to bring some youth into the back row.

 

[Robert Prosser]

Yeah, I agree, but is it too late? The Ponty MP wants this regional reform with a Valleys region.
Sheppeard is a handy young eight, and Blues truly need one. For me, the Blues are just behind the Scarlets for young players coming through. They just need to integrate them into the team smartly. Hill and Cook have slowly been gaining some game time, but they really need to bring some youth into the back row.

The Ponty MP can want as much as he likes but we cant sustain 4 regions right now without a valleys region joining the league how would they be able to afford that the current four regions are hemroging money as we speak, add a fifth region to that and the money pot gets even smaller.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

The fifth region will be the North Wales region if they ever want a fifth. They have invested money there so that's where it will go. I go back to the point that the Blues top dogs have done little to support Ponty or encourage Ponty to be involved within the region.

 

[psychic duck]

Sheppeard is a handy young eight, and Blues truly need one. For me, the Blues are just behind the Scarlets for young players coming through. They just need to integrate them into the team smartly. Hill and Cook have slowly been gaining some game time, but they really need to bring some youth into the back row.

???

quite a way to go before they match the Scarlets for young players coming through, most of the Scarlets young players are now starting whilst the Blues young players (Robinson, Cook etc) have barely got past the LV Cup team

I remember not that long ago that it was the Ospreys who had all the young players coming through

 

[Jockstap]

Do the Blues have way more fans than usual present or is it just the smaller stadium?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Do the Blues have way more fans than usual present or is it just the smaller stadium?

Both in this case.

 

[Jockstap]

Both in this case.

They should stick with this stadium, the atmosphere is far better.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

They should stick with this stadium, the atmosphere is far better.

Pretty much what all the Blues fans want, Blues at the Arms Park.

 

[Jockstap]

Pretty much what all the Blues fans want, Blues at the Arms Park.

Well you just tell them what I said next time you see them. If everybody would just listen to me everything would be alllllllllllright.

 

[Robert Prosser]

Well you just tell them what I said next time you see them. If everybody would just listen to me everything would be alllllllllllright.

If only init, we will play there again this season but the derbies with Scarlets and Ospreys will be played at the Cardiff City stadium.

 

[dullonien]

Not a bad prediction .

Lol at the song choice after the game. 'Want you back for good' (not sure who sung it, some boy band).

 

[cyRil]

Not a bad prediction .

Lol at the song choice after the game. 'Want you back for good' (not sure who sung it, some boy band).

I noticed that too Dull, quality You're joking you don't know who sung it right...?

Also, Justin Burnell is the spit of that orc in Return of the King!!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Not a bad prediction .

Lol at the song choice after the game. 'Want you back for good' (not sure who sung it, some boy band).

 

[dullonien]

Am I meant to know. If I had to guess I'd say Take That, but honestly, I've steered clear of chart music all of my life. I used to listen to my mums music when I was younger (Beatles, Rolling Stones, Cream, Eric Clapton, Meat Loaf, Deep Purple), then moved into more modern Rock, Punk Rock and Metal.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4R8xTu68r54" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[SportingNonsense]

Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sumofmarc/sets/72157629363039003

 

[Me 1]

I noticed that too Dull, quality You're joking you don't know who sung it right...?

Also, Justin Burnell is the spit of that orc in Return of the King!!

:lol:, good one CyRil!

 

[Peat]

Kinda grateful I slept through that now... not sure what to make of preliminary fan reports from the Ulster PoV, sounds like we ****** away our chances somewhat and more calls for the SmP/StP 9-10 axis as iHumph's really not in the mood - would you say there's any fairness to that Cardiff fans?

The depth at Ulster really is paper thin at the moment in terms of leadership it seems, I increasingly fear any game without Best and/or Muller.

 

[dullonien]

The Blues were just too strong for a weakened Ulster side. A few key players had strong games, namely Rush (best I've seen from him in almost two years), and Parks in the second half. The Blues were woeful in the first half, handed Ulster their points on a silver platter with a botched kick to touch and lineout throw, and Parks terrible charged down clearance kick / Henson's rediculous grubber. Saying that, the Blues defense was generally great, and they turned over cruicial ball when Ulster were making headway.

The Blues look to be building a very nice squad. I'm not convinced with Baber and Burnell, because the Blues attack was attrocious in the first half, and I couldn't see where the structure was, something that surely is worked on during training. Parks didn't help, but it was far from just his fault. The outside backs simply weren't giving him any options. Things improved hugely in the second half. Parks actually started to put in some nice passes, which brought the outside backs into play, with Henson beginning to show the kinda touches that can unlock defenses. With Blair back at fullback, Rush hopefully regaining some decent form, and a good showing from the young Cory Hill at lock, the Blues were well worth their victory. They'll come up short against Leinster in the HC if Parks can't improve massively (and stop getting charged down!), although they could have a chance if they can get Roberts, Laulala/Henson, Cuthbert, Rush, Halfpenny and Blair into the game.

 

[Amiga500]

iHumph with yet another embarrassing attempt at a tackle.


What is the point slogging your guts out in training all week to basically chicken out of making a hit and letting everyone else in the squad down?